Diaz Dishes It Out

Friday, November 27

Riverside, Calif.

2:00 PM

California Baptist University

5-0

Cal State L.A.

1-3

Team	1	2	3	4	F
Cal State L.A.	21	16	10	17	64
California Baptist University	24	28	29	16	97

Photo by: Sammi Wellman

11/27/2015 4:01:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

By: Sammi Sheppard, Director of Sports Information

RIVERSIDE, Calif. — Coming into Friday's post-Thanksgiving matchup with Cal State L.A., No. 4-ranked California Baptist University had a lot to be thankful for. The Lancers came into the contest outscoring their opponents by 22.3 points per game.

Friday afternoon brought even more fire as CBU downed Cal State L.A. 97-64 to remain unblemished on the year at 5-0. The Golden Eagles fell to 1-3 with the loss.

"We had a really nice effort today," said head coach Jarrod Olson. "We were really balanced on offense and we really worked well as a team on defense."

Kamille Diaz fueled the Lancer offense, dishing out a career-high 12 assists — just three shy of tying the single game record set in 2006 by Nicole Davis — and added 14 points (4-for-7) to complete the double-double.

"Kamille did a nice job finding her teammates, while still taking the shots when they were there," said Olson.

Cassidy Mihalko was the one Lancer most often found on the opposite end of Diaz's assists, finishing the game with 19 points on 8-for-16 shooting. Emma Meriggioli followed with 18 points (5-for-10), while Darsha Burnside contributed 14 points (7-for-11) and nine rebounds, just one shy of a double-double.

The Golden Eagles opened with an 8-2 run before the Lancers took their first lead of the game, 12-10, off back-to-back three-pointers from Diaz to start an 11-0 run. Meriggioli rattled in a triple of her own to cap the run, putting CBU in front 20-10 with three minutes remaining in the first quarter.

CBU couldn't seem to be contained as Erin Asher hit a three to give the Lancers a 20-point cushion, 52-32, just before halftime. CSULA did have a response, however, cutting it down to 52-37 at the break.

After the visitors opened the second half with a shot from the perimeter, CBU went on a scoring spree, scoring 19-straight points to take a commanding 30-point upper hand, 71-40. Diaz snagged a defensive rebound and found Mihalko on a fast break to initiate the rampage, while Meriggioli finished two shots at the charity stripe to give CBU the 31-point advantage.

Cal State L.A. managed to stop the bleeding briefly, but CBU kept pushing and went into the final frame in front 81-47.

Kristine Sellona rattled in two three-pointers in the final 10 minutes of the game to finish the day with eight points in her five minutes of action. Emily Schmidt sealed the 33-point victory, 97-64, with a free throw in the last 30 seconds.

"I was really happy for Kristine to come in off the bench and play so well," said Olson.

CBU closes the Thanksgiving Classic Saturday afternoon at 2:00 p.m., tipping off against Cal State Dominguez Hills. The Toros come off a 66-59 loss to Point Loma.